Fearless Blog

Very exciting news! Dave and I are featured in Redbook’s January issue talking about Spin4Survival!
With 6 weeks to go we have signed up close to 100 teams and have already raised $130,000 for much-needed cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Please visit Spin4survival.org to learn more about the event happening on January 27th and to make a donation to this very worthy cause.

(Please read on...) Read More

Sorry I have not written in a while. Dave and I have been really busy with getting ready for Spin4Survival #2. We also FINALLY took a long-awaited trip to Acadia National Park in Maine. I say finally because this trip has been 4 years in the making!
About 5 years ago, we bought an absolutely beautiful photograph of the fall foliage at Acadia Park in Maine. The picture hangs in our living room and it is stunning. I have always said that “One day, I’d really like to get there and see the leaves myself”. We planned it for 2004 and we had to cancel because I was going through chemotherapy. We planned it for 2005 and had to cancel because I had medical tests I needed to attend to. We planned it for 2006 and had to cancel because of a wedding. The hotel reservations department always said “OK, we’ll just book it for the same weekend next year!”. Being the geek that I am, I found a fall foliage …

(Please read on...) Read More

The launch of Spin4Survival 2008 has arrived!
I am THRILLED to announce that we have officially launched Spin4Survival 2008!
Spin4survival.org is now open for business….accepting teams, riders and donations. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! On Sunday, January 27th, 2008 teams will participate in locations throughout the world to raise money in an effort to eradicate cancer.
For those of you who are not aware, Spin4Survival is an indoor cycling event that Dave and I created last year to raise money for essential cancer research and important cancer survivorship initiatives. The inaugural event was unbelievable – we raised more than $200,000! Memories of the day often carry me through the tough times I’ve had over the past year.
This event is really a loving tribute to my extended “family” at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Dave and I developed Spin4Survival largely because we are so grateful and appreciative of the entire staff who treated me throughout the past three years, and who will continue to care for me in the uncertain years ahead.
While I was going through …

(Please read on...) Read More

I showed up at the chemo clinic this past Friday to get my usual “spa treatment”. The typical drill is that they check your blood work to make sure that a variety of different components have “bounced back” to normal from the past treatment. Assuming that your red blood cell and white blood cell counts are at normal levels, the Dr’s proceed with the chemotherapy treatment.
I have always taken this “drill” as a given since my blood counts have never been questioned. They are always elevated and I am able to proceed with chemo, no problem. My Dr. had started to pull back on some of my shots to see how my blood levels would react with less “medical assistance” but I didn’t really think much about it…
However, this past Friday, my blood counts were not high enough and Dr. Maki had to turn me away from treatment. This is the first time in my almost 12 months of receiving chemotherapy that this has happened to me. It is nothing …

(Please read on...) Read More

Today is Dave’s and my 4th year anniversary. It is hard to believe that we have been married for 4 years. In some ways it feels like forever and in some ways it feels like just yesterday. So, what are we doing to celebrate our special day? Heading to the hospital this afternoon for chemotherapy 🙂 When I look back over our 4 years, 3 of our anniversaries have been marked by some cancer-related event. Our 2nd anniversary I was in the hospital, our 3rd anniversary, I was getting a CT scan and this year I will be back in the hospital for chemotherapy. Many people ask “why don’t you move your schedule around so you don’t have to deal with cancer stuff on your anniversary?” For me, in an odd way, it feels appropriate to be taking care of these things on September 7th. It has become something that we live with, a part of our lives. All of my treatments and hospital stays are a constant reminder to …

(Please read on...) Read More

I have been back at work for two weeks and I am happy to report that, on the whole, I have been very good at taking care of me.
Work has been very hectic as there has been a lot of organizational change. My boss (the CMO) along with the CFO resigned the week before I got back and I had three resignations in my department since I got back to work. But, rather than stress out about it, I have been taking everything in stride. I have been working fairly long hours but they are not stressful and I have been the one making the decision to stay late if I need to. I have been getting to bed between 9-10PM every night, eating well and exercising.
My first chemo cycle has been pretty uneventful. I think my body is in a bit of shock that we are “back to chemo again” but, with the exception of 1 really tiring day, I am feeling really healthy and strong.
I have my “port” …

(Please read on...) Read More

It is Sunday night and I am getting ready to go back to work tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting back to my “normal” schedule but I need to make sure that I continue to prioritize myself.
This became very clear when I met with Dr. Maki this past Friday before I started chemo again. I asked him how much longer I would be on chemo and his answer was “long”. I asked him the question that I have been thinking about the most lately; “Since the tumors were removed with surgery and you can no longer ‘see’ any cancer cells on a CT scan, when will you know when to stop with chemo?” His answer was honest but not cut & dry. He basically said that he would like to keep me on the chemo for up to a year…based largely on how well I handle it. If I get run down, tired, have bad side effects etc., he will lower the dosage or take me off chemo completely.
The …

(Please read on...) Read More

Dave and I met with my surgeon on Thursday and he ordered me to stay home for one more week. Part of me was frustrated with this news and the other part of me was a bit relieved. I am anxious to get back to things as I am going a bit stir crazy in the house but, given that I have had lots of bad stomach cramping and soreness, I agree with him that I am not “back to normal” just yet. Because all of your internal organs are “removed and put back together” during surgery, it can take a month or so until everything is working well again. Basically, your stomach is confused and is trying to re-route its path. So, I am home for one more week.
Dave and I met with the development team at MSKCC this past Wednesday to talk about the future of Spin4Survival. The event is near and dear to our hearts and we have a lot of energy to make it even bigger …

(Please read on...) Read More

I am happy to report that I am getting better each day. I have sworn off the Vicodin and am now getting by on tons of Tylenol and sleep. The appetite is starting to come back and I have been doing a ton of walking which has gotten easier every day. What is so nice about recovery this time is that it is taking place during the summer! My last two surgeries were in December and January so I had no choice but to stay indoors. Now, I can get out a bit more. I have had a really great time “rediscovering” the city through my walks. I have been seeing lots of friends by making dates to walk in Central Park or to “escort” my friends to their jobs in midtown. If anyone is looking for a walking companion, just call me up!
I have been so, so touched by all of the wonderful “get well” messages I have received! Dave and I are constantly reminded of just how wonderful …

(Please read on...) Read More

It is Monday and it is so good to be home! I spent more time in the hospital than I had planned (6 days) and was very anxious to get back to my own bed. I am still very, very sore and my stomach is very distended (I tried to smile when someone wished me “good luck” with my pregnancy today!) but I feel progress every day. After a week or two recuperating at home, I should be as good as new!
Although it stinks to be in the hospital, all in all, it was a really good experience. The surgery was very successful according to my Dr’s (we will find out more next week) and I was beyond lucky to get a huge, private room during my 6 night stay. I had visits from tons of family and friends, received a few wonderful foot massages, and met some really inspiring patients as I conducted my daily walk around the floor (after stomach surgery, Dr’s make you get up and start …

(Please read on...) Read More